Challenge.gov Named as Top 5 Finalist for Harvard Innovation Award

Thanks to the tremendous work of challenge managers across the federal government and the support of the White House Office of Science & Technology Policy, GSA’s Challenge.gov program has been named one of the top 5 finalists in Harvard’s Innovations in American Government Award. Challenge.gov is the federal government’s online portal for running challenge and prize competitions. Challenge.gov allows the government to crowdsource innovative solutions to problems in a contest format, bringing diversity in contributors. This pay-for-performance model saves money on key initiatives and broadly drives innovation within and beyond government.

Launched on September 7, 2010, Challenge.gov has hosted more than 300 crowdsourcing competitions, in which federal agencies have awarded upwards of 200 prizes. It now averages six new challenge and prize competitions a month. Nearly 60 agencies have used the platform to help solve everything from stopping illegal robocalls to developing 100 miles-per-gallon vehicles. Agencies are increasingly turning to Challenge.gov to conduct software and apps challenges, to meet the vision of a more citizen-centric digital government.

We are honored to be among this group, after rigorous competition from all levels of government. Join us in congratulating all the finalists today.

And a big pat on the back to the hundreds of champions who worked on the public prize competitions to date. Your innovative ideas, determination, creativity and hard work are what brings this program to life every day, engaging citizens and solving mission-centric problems in ways that tap into the best and brightest minds in the world.

For more details about this prestigious award and the types of innovations that are being recognized at the federal, state, and local levels visit Ash.Harvard.edu.